Antique Glassware – Long & Colourful History
Glass is a pretty amazing material and it has been used for centuries. We’ve all admired the stunning stained glass in 13th century churches, and you probably wondered how they managed to do that in those times.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the properties of glass:
- Glass is transparent.
- Glass can be moulded into any shape.
- Glass is smooth to the touch.
- Glass breaks easily.
- Glass can be coloured.
Earliest Evidence Of Glassmaking
The earliest signs that people used glass are around 2500BC, in Mesopotamia, Syria and ancient Egypt, when they made small glass objects, even cups and vessels. The glass used was not clear, as you might imagine, yet coloured, due to the impurities in the sand. It is not known how soon people realised they could control the colouring, but eventually, stained glass arrived on the scene.
Antique Glassware
From the 13th century on, you will find a wide range of glassware, which was mainly decorative and with online antique dealers offering antique glassware for sale, you can adorn your home with some antique glass pieces. Grace your dining table with Victorian cut glass bowls, which you can find listed on the dealer’s website. Once you select your pieces, a secure online payment is all it takes for the glassware to be carefully packaged and sent by courier to your home address.
The Romans & Glassblowing
The history of glassblowing is long and complex. The Romans discovered that blowing air into molten glass made it expand and around the 8th century BC, blown glassware began to be made. The Romans were masters of the art, creating delicate works of art that were prized by the wealthy elite. In addition to ornamental objects, the Romans also used glass in a variety of practical applications, such as windows, drinking vessels, and containers for products like perfume and oil. The skills of Roman glassblowers were so highly prized that they were often recruited by other cultures, helping to spread the art of glassblowing throughout the world.
In the 18th century, stunning vintage glassware graced the homes of the wealthy. Even today, Roman glassworks are highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs. If you would like to view a stunning collection of antique and vintage glassware, look no further than the online antique dealer.
Middle Ages
At around 500AD, most of the glass was made in the Middle East region by Islamic societies and it wasn’t until the 10th century that glassmaking began to appear in Europe, with fine examples of stained-glass in churches and cathedrals from the 11th century on.
Murano, Italy
This soon became the centre for fine glasswork and even today, Murano, or Venetian glass has a reputation for being the finest in the world. It was here that glaziers began experimenting in the 15th century, using innovative techniques to create stunning works of art that can still be enjoyed today!
English Glassmakers
The 18th century saw England move into the realm of glassware, using cut glass to make stunning pieces, which led to the use of crystal glass, which England is so well known for. English crystal was said to be better than the Italian version, due to better durability and ease of decorating. The English did what no one had done, they looked at the refractive light properties with a view to experimenting, which resulted in spectacular creations, such as chandeliers that radiated light in all directions. These chandeliers are very valuable and you can view amazing examples on the antique dealer’s website, where they list a range of antique glassware.
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